However, he added it was the job of politicians to find solutions to problems in society.

Although the absolute level of poverty had decreased in recent years, it was getting worse for many, he commented.

“We have an ever growing number of people who have fallen from the way of life of society’s majority and now find themselves estranged. They ask if they remain eligible to be a citizen,” Archbishop Mäkinen added.

In his view, the Church is inseparable element of society but, at the same time, brings a Godlike holy perspective that can also be critical in style.

Apart from reducing inequality, Mäkinen also considers combating climate change to be important.

Prayers are a Good Support for Same-sex Couples

The Archbishop expressed his pleasure at the variety of opinions and wealth of discussion within Church ranks. Following on from this autumn’s debate on the status of gay and lesbian couples, he said the Church’s General Synod had made a good decision to sanction prayers as a means of support for same-sex couples.

“I consider this a good decision because it gives clear support to people living in a homosexual relationship,” Mäkinen added.

He noted registered gay couples should be guaranteed the same rights as those in a heterosexual marriage. However, this did not mean the church should start marrying same-sex couples.

Mäkinen reminded that praying for homosexual couples was not an official duty and was separate from the issue of male pastors working with female colleagues.

The recent discussion on gay marriage had raised the issue of how the Bible should be interpreted.

”The Bible is always interpreted from its center: the hand of Christ,” Makinen affirmed.

Christmas a Fundamental Part of Lutheran Tradition

Although pupils represented various differing cultures and religions, the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church said schools should not remove the celebration of Christmas.

“It was a fundamental part of the Christian tradition,” he concluded.